Barrel-type processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cam rail moves an arm assembly into and out of a treating solution, the assembly comprising an elongated nonrotatable tubular sleeve resiliently urged in contact with an end of a conductor shaft mounted in but insulated from said sleeve. A housing surrounds and is spaced from end portion of said sleeve, being mounted for rotation by bearing means between the sleeve and housing. A nonrotatable housing is fixedly mounted on the other end portion of said sleeve, and a supporting cam carried by said nonrotatable housing is adapted to engage the cam rail. An electrical contact shoe carried by but insulated from the nonrotatable housing is in electrical contact with said conductor shaft, being adapted to engage an electrical cathode rail.

United States Patent Warren, Mich.

BARREL-TYPE PROCESSING APPARATUS 7 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 204/202, 118/418, 204/201, 204/214 Int. Cl 801k 3/00, C23b 5/78,BOSC 3/00 Field of Search 204/193,

Primary Examiner-John 1-1. Mack Assistant Examiner-T. TufarielloAttorneysElwood J. Schaffer and Roger J Drew ABSTRACT: A cam rail movesan arm assembly into and out of a treating solution, the assemblycomprising an elongated nonrotatable tubular sleeve resiliently urged incontact with an end of a conductor shaft mounted in but insulated fromsaid sleeve. A housing surrounds and is spaced from end portion of saidsleeve, being mounted for rotation by bearing means between the sleeveand housing. A nonrotatable hous ing is fixedly mounted on the other endportion of said sleeve, and a supporting cam carried by saidnonrotatable housing is adapted to engage the cam rail. An electricalcontact shoe carried by but insulated from the nonrotatable housing isin electrical contact with said conductor shaft, being adapted to engagean electrical cathode rail.

PATENIED SEPZI l9?! SHEET 2 OF 7 PATENIED SEP21 I97l SHEET 8 [1F 7ATTORNEYS PAFFEG SEPZl i97l SHEET 7 OF 7 INENTOH BARREL-TYPE PROCESSINGAPPARATUS This application is a division of my copending application,Ser. No. 568,287 filed July 27, 1966 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,650.

This invention relates to an automatic barrel plating and processingmachine and equipment therefor, such machine being adapted for the bulkhandling of small articles and for alternately tumbling, and thentransferring a mass of small articles from one work station or positionto another.

The present invention is concerned with the type of machine which isparticularly useful for chemical and elec trochemical treatment of smallarticles in bulk. Such machines are commonly referred to asbarrel-plating machines although their use is not restricted toelectroplating processes. The prior art machines have been extensivelyemployed in industry for automatically processing a variety ofworkpieces through a series of treating sequences which often includeone or more electrochemical or electroplating steps. Such machinesinclude an elongated central frame and means for mounting a plurality ofreceptacles or baskets (called barrels) in an inclined position fortravel in a generally oval path around the frame from station tostation. Means are also provided for intermittently driving the barrelsaround the frame, for swinging the barrels upwardly to clearobstructions as they pass through certain portions of their path, andmeans for rotating the barrels upon their own axes when they are intheir lowered, inclined positions for tumbling workpieces supportedtherein.

The general arrangement of a typical machine of this type is illustratedin the patent to Albert l-I. I-Iannon U.S. Pat. No. 2,148,552 entitledBarrel Plating Machine and in the patent to James Barton U.S. Pat. No.2,963,140 entitled Barrel Type Conveyor Apparatus. The machine shown inthe Hannon patent includes a central frame having tanks or other workstations arranged along both sides thereof in a generally oval pattern.A plurality of barrels are supported upon brackets which are mounted forsliding or rolling travel along a track fixed upon the frame. Thebarrels are rotatably mounted upon arms which are pivoted upon thebrackets for vertically swinging movement with respect thereto. Thus thebarrels may be rotated upon their own axes, advanced around the centralframe, and swung upwardly for clearing obstructions or for unloading.Normally in machines of this type, the barrels are rotatably driven onlywhen they are in their lowered inclined positions. In the I-lannonpatent rotational drive of the barrels is accomplished by a pair ofelongated worms mounted on opposite sides of the central frame adjacentto the tanks and arranged to be rotatably driven. Each barrel isprovided with a worm wheel which engages one of the worms when thebarrel is lowered into its opposite position to couple the barrel to theworm for the rotary drive of the barrel through its worm wheel.

The Barton patent illustrates a machine in which a continuous chain istrained around the complete path that the barrels travel on the machine,and each one of the barrels is provided with a specially shaped sprocketwhich engages the chain for rotational drive when the barrels arelowered into their inclined operative positions at the treating or workstations.

The Barton and I-lannon machines just described are believed to betypical prior art processing machines. Each of the machines has certainoperational and functional disadvantages due in part to the fact thatall of the barrels have entrance openings which face the central framethereby making it very difficult at times to load and unload thebarrels. In addition an excessive amount of time is required forloading, unloading and transferring the barrels during the treatingoperations. As a result of the barrel construction, it is necessary thatthe lift arm assemblies on the machines to which the barrels areconnected are inclined downwardly when in an operative position in thetreating tanks as illustrated in the Hannon and Barton patents. Inaddition, each barrel has to be raised to a greater extent between theinclined downwardly extending operative position and the inclinedupwardly extending raised and transfer position. Thus the specificlocation of the openings in the barrels of the aforementioned prior artmachine require a complex, cumbersome and rather expensive structure toachieve the requisite lifting action of the barrels, such structureimposing unduly high stress and wear on the operating components of themachine.

The present processing apparatus incorporates many unique and novelfeatures which overcome certain of the technical problems inherent inthe prior art machines including the arrangement on the frame of aplurality of barrels having entrance openings facing outwardly of theframe in order to facilitate the loading and unloading of the barrelsand the overall operation and functioning of the apparatus during theprocessing sequences. Such an apparatus is of simple and durable designand provides for a high degree of operating flexibility and versatilitynot heretofore known in barrel plating or processing machines.

The unique design and configuration of the barrel of the presentinvention, which has the entrance opening therein facing outwardly withrespect to the frame of the processing machine, has many advantages. Thebarrel is in the form of a hollow perforated receptacle closed at thebottom, with the side and top walls thereof each being of polygonalconfiguration, specifically eight-sided, for imparting additionaltumbling motion to the workpieces in the receptacle upon rotationthereof. Each barrel is mounted on the frame of the processing machineby means of a novel and unique lift arm, which is provided withrotatable and nonrotatable housing portions through which a cathodicconductor extends, whereby the lift arm and barrel assembly has agenerally horizontal attitude when in the operative position at atreating station and when at the loading station to facilitate treatingand loading of the workpieces respectively. The lift arm and barrelassembly is raised to an inclined attitude or position, with theentrance opening of the barrel facing upwardly when the barrel is movedfrom station to station. The lift arm and barrel assembly has aninclined downwardly extending attitude or position, with the entranceopening of the barrel facing downwardly when at the unloading station topermit the workpieces to be readily discharged therefrom.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lift arm assembly fora processing machine of relatively inexpensive construction and of aunique design and configuration, such lift arm assembly being providedwith rotatable and nonrotatable housing portions through which thecathodic conductor extendsv It is thus another object of this inventionto provide a simplified low cost structure of the aforementioned typehaving certain advantages contributing to efficiency, reliability andlong life as well as case of maintenance.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the barrel processing apparatusincorporating the preferred embodiments of the present invention andillustrating a typical arrangement of treating receptacles or tanksdisposed around the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the barrel processing machinelooking in the direction of arrow A.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the barrel processing machinelooking in the direction of arrow B.

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 andillustrating one of the barrels of the apparatus in a loading position.

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFIG. 1 and illustrating the barrels in an operative position at thetreating stations.

FIG. 6 is an end view of a barrel and a tank taken on the line 6-6 ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 1 andillustrating a barrel in an elevated transfer position ready to move tothe next station.

FIG. 8 is a transverse view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 1 andillustrating a barrel in solid lines in an operative position, and indotted lines in an elevated transfer position.

FIG. 9 is a transverse vertical view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 1,and illustrating a reciprocating snorkel-type heating unit in a barrelat the drying station for directing heated air onto the workpieces inthe barrel.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side view of a barrel and associated conveyormechanism taken on the line l of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a carrier or lift arm assembly and themounting therefor.

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 1l. 7

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary side view, in section, taken on the line 13---13 ofFIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, and as may best be illustrated in FIGS.1-3, inclusive and FIG. 5, the barrel processing machine or apparatus isdesignated by the numeral 10. The apparatus 10 comprises an elongatedcentral frame 12 around which is located an elongated outer frame 14 forsupporting a series of aligned treating receptacles or tanks 16.

The specific barrel processing apparatus 10 is of the turnaround typewherein the travel of the workpieces is in a closed loop patterncommencing at the loading station generally indicated by the numeral inFIG. 1 through a series of treating tanks 16 in a counterclockwisedirection as indicated by the arrows C (FIG. 1) and terminating at anunloading station 24 adjacent to the loading station 20 as viewed inFIG. 1. It will of course be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat the specific embodiments of this invention are equally applicableto conveying machines of the straightthrough type wherein the workpiecesare loaded at one end of the machine and are conveyed therealong throughthe treating receptacles and unloaded at the other end thereof.

The elongated central frame 12 comprises a pair of longitudinallyextending base channels 26 connected to each other by a series oftransverse base channels 28 at the ends and at intermediate pointsthereof in order to provide a rigid supporting base platform. Thecentral frame 12 further includes a series of longitudinally spacedcentrally located upright columns 30 which are rigidly affixed at theirlower ends to the transverse base channels 28 and a pair of rows oflongitudinally spaced upright support members 32 which are rigidlyaffixed at their lower ends to the base channels 28. One row of supportmembers 32 is located on each side of the central row of base channels28. Each column 30 is transversely aligned with a pair of supportmembers 32, with the upper ends of such column and members 32 connectedby a transversely extending support beam 34 which has the ends thereofconnected to column 30 by braces 36.

A continuous work supporting angle or rail 38 is rigidly affixed, as anexample, to the support beams 34, support members 32 and to otherstructural frame members. The rail 38 ex tends in a continuous looparound the entire central frame 12 and comprises a pair of straight railsections 40 extending along the straight side portions of the centralframe 12 and a pair of semicircular arcuate turn around rail sections,not shown, connected to the rail sections 40 and extending around theend portions of the frame 12.

A plurality of workpiece holder and barrel assemblies 42 are mounted onlift or carry arm assemblies 44, the latter as semblies 44 beingattached to conveyor means provided on the central frame 12 for movingthe barrel assemblies 42 in a generally oval path around the frame 12.

The lift arm assembly 44 as best illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12comprises an elongated tubular sleeve 46, as an example, made from steeland a cathodic or electrical conductor 48, as an example, made fromcopper coaxially mounted in the interior of the sleeve 46 and separatedtherefrom by means of a pair of insulators or insulating bushings 50provided at opposite ends of the sleeve 46 as best illustrated in FIG.12. The bushings 50 are made, as an example, from nylon. The lift armassembly 44 further includes on the front end portion of the sleeve 46an external tubular housing 52 which is coaxially mounted with respectto the sleeve 56 and is spaced therefrom. A pair of roller or ballbearings 54 are located in the space between the housing 52 and thesleeve 46 and mounts the housing 52 for rotation. The annular bearings54 are held in place by means of internal shoulders 56 provided in thehousing 52 and by means of snap rings 58 carried by the sleeve 46 andadapted to hold the bearings 54 against the shoulders 56 as bestillustrated in FIG. 12. The housing 52 includes a front mounting flange60, a rear mounting flange 62, and an annular mounting ring 64 extendingrearwardly from the flange 62.

The lift arm assembly 44 further includes a nonrotatable housing 66which is coaxially mounted with respect to the sleeve 46. The housing 66is U-shaped and in the form of a yoke having a pair of laterally spacedarms or brackets 68. The forward or front end surface 70 of the yoke 66is spaced from the rear end surface 72 provided on the rotatable housing52. A drive sprocket 73 is fixedly mounted on the annular mounting ring64 and is held against the rear surface of mounting flange 62 and isadapted to rotate housing 52. A spacing element 74 and thrust washer 76are located between the housings 52 and 56. The spacer 74 is providedwith an internal bushing 77 which engages the sleeve 46. A plurality ofradially spaced fastening elements or pins 80 extend through the spacer74, sprocket 73 and flange 62 for securing same together as a rotatableunit.

The forward or front end of the yoke 66 is provided on the outerperiphery thereof with an annular recess 82 in which is mounted anannular bearing element 84 carrying a cam ring or wheel 86. The bearing84 and ring 86 are fixedly held in place on the yoke 46 by means of asnap ring 88 and the thrust washer 76 heretofore described.

The trailing end of the conductor 48 is provided with a flange 90 whichis spaced from the centrally located yoke surface 92 by an annular ringmember 94 and by a spacer or washer 96. The ring member 94 is carried bythe sleeve 46 and is secured thereto by a plurality of fastening devices98. The conductor 48 is insulated from yoke 66 by means of the spacer96.

An electrical contact shoe is provided which includes an upstandingflange 102 terminating on the lower end thereof in an enlarged base orshoe portion 104. The front side of the flange is provided with adepressed surface 106 extending the full length thereof and terminatinglaterally in edges or surfaces 108 and 1 10. The flange 90 of theconductor fits into the depression of the shoe 100, with the surfacesthereon in electrical contact with surfaces 106, 108 and 110 provided onshoe 100 as best illustrated in FIG. 11.

The yoke 66 further includes a saddle 112 extending transversely betweenthe arms 68. The saddle 1 12 includes a pair of mounting lugs 114 whichoverlie a pair of lugs 116 provided on the contact shoe 100. The contactshoe 100 is connected to the saddle 112 of yoke 66 by means of a pair ofpins 118 extending through the openings in the corresponding lugs I14and 116.

Interposed between each of the opposing lugs 114 and 116 is resilientmeans 120 in the form of a coil spring effective to urge or bias thecontact shoe 100 downwardly into engagement with the cathode rail aswill be subsequently described. The resilient means 120 maintainselectrical contact between the rail and shoe 100 and compensates for anywear or warpage in the rail. In order to permit the shoe 100 to slidevertically a bearing 122 made, as an example, from Teflon is providedbetween the back side of the shoe flange 102 and a movable pressure orbackup plate 124.

Resilient means are provided for urging the back up plate 124, bearing122 and shoe 100 toward the conductor 48, such means taking the form, asan example, of a pair of coiled springs interposed between the saddle112 and the backup plate 124. The saddle 112 is provided with a pair ofcentrally located upper and lower rods or spring guides 129 around whichthe baising springs 130 are located as best illustrated in FIG. 1 1.

Thus the contact shoe 100 is resiliently mounted on the saddle 112 formovement horizontally as well as vertically to insure effectiveelectrical contact at all times.

An insulating spacer or element 132 is interposed between each yoke arm68 and the corresponding end of saddle 112. A pair of fastening devices134 secured each arm 68, spacer 132 and the saddle 112 together. Thefastening devices 134 each include a threaded bolt, washer, nut and aninsulating bushing 136 insulating the yoke 66.

The arms or brackets 68 are pivotally connected to a conveyor drivenmovable bracket or carriage 138. The carriage 138 has a pair of lugs 140with openings corresponding to the openings in brackets 68. A pivotshaft 142 extends through the openings in lugs 140 and brackets 68thereby pivotally mounting the lift arm assembly 44 as will be describedlater.

It should be appreciated that the electrical current carrying parts ofthe lift arm assembly 44 are suitably insulated from the other partsthereof for safety purposes.

The workpiece holder and bracket assembly 42 is mounted on the forwardor front end of the lift arm assembly 42 and is provided with agenerally centrally located axis which is coincidental with the axis ofthe lift arm assembly 44. The bracket 144 of the assembly 42 includes abase 146 through which the axis extends. Attached to the base 146 are aplurality of elongated arms 148, each arm 148 being secured on the sameend to the base 146 at spaced points thereon. The arms 148 extendforwardly from the base 146 and are arranged generally parallel to theaxis of the assembly 42. A hollow perforated receptacle or basket 150 iscarried by the bracket 144 as illustrated in the drawings. Thereceptacle 150 is provided with a closed bottom or bottom wall 152 andincludes a sidewall 154 and a top wall 156. The side and top walls areeach of polygonal configuration. Specifically, the sidewall 154 of thereceptacle is of octagonal configuration. The top wall 156 of thereceptacle is also of octagonal configuration with the ends or edges ofthe eight top sections surrounding a generally centrally locatedrelatively large opening 160 throughwhich the workpieces to be treatedare introduced into the receptacle 150. The base 146 is provided with acentrally located opening 162. The bottom wall 152 is provided with acentrally located opening 164 in which is fixedly located a tubularelement 165. The element 165 extends through the opening 162 in the base146 and through the opening 167 in the disc 166 located on the interiorof the receptacle against the bottom wall 152. The disc 166, base 146and bottom wall 152 are insulated or made from nonconducting materials.A plurality of radially space fastening means 168 such as threaded nutsand bolts are provided for securing the disc 166, bottom wall 152 of thereceptacle 150, the base 146 of the bracket 144 to the mounting flange60 provided on housing 52. The top and sidewalls 156 and 154respectively, and in some cases the bottom wall 152, of the receptacle150 are perforated on all the surfaces thereof to permit treatingsolutions injected into the receptacle during the processing operationsto escape, Each perforation has a diameter of approximately ninethirty-seconds inch. The perforations are arranged in a relatively closepattern so as to substantially cover all surfaces of the receptacle 150.The polygonal configuration of the top and sidewalls of the receptacle150 help to add or to impart additional tumbling motion to theworkpieces in the receptacle 150 upon rotation thereof. the receptacle,as an example, is made from polypropylene having a thickness ofthree-eighths inch.

Each side of the central frame 12 is provided with a longitudinallyextending channel-shaped member 172 fixedly mounted on the cross membersor supports 34. Each member 172 includes a vertical backwall 174, upperand lower horizontally extending flanges 176 and 178 respectively andinwardly turned upper and lower vertical flanges 180 and 182respectively which are spaced laterally from the backwall 174. Thechannel members 172 extend substantially the entire length of the frame12, one member 172 on each side of the frame 12 as best illustrated inFIG. 5.

The upper part of each member 172 including flanges 176 and 180 form anupper chain guide or track while the lower part of each member 172including flanges 178 and 182 form a lower chain guide or track. Anupper continuous or endless link chain or conveyor 184 is located in theupper chain guide aforesaid and extends around the central frame 12 andis supported at the arcuate turn around portions of the apparatus 10 byan upper idler sprocket 183 at one end of the apparatus 10 and by anupper drive sprocket at the other end of the apparatus 10. The chain orconveyor 184 consists of a series of pivotally connected upper and lowerlinks which have interposed therebetween a continuous series of closelyspaced upper guide rollers 185 which engage opposing vertical surfacesof the upper guide tracks aforesaid as the chain 184 traverses the frame12. The purpose of the guide rollers 185 is to provide lateral stabilityfor the conveyor chain 184 as it moves about the periphery of the frame12.

A lower continuous or endless link chain or conveyor 186, similarlyconstructed to the conveyor 184, is located in the lower chain guideaforesaid and extends around the central frame 12 and is supported by alower idler sprocket 183' and by a lower drive sprocket 185'. The chainor conveyor 186 consists of a plurality of interconnected upper andlower links having interposed therebetween a continuous series ofclosely spaced lower guide rollers 187. The guide rollers 187 areadapted to engage the vertical surfaces of the lower guide tracksaforesaid as the conveyor or chain 186 moves about the periphery of theframe 12 in synchronous movement with the chain or conveyor 184.

The idler sprockets 183 and 183' are rotatably mounted on a shaft 188 atone end of the frame 12 while the drive sprockets 185 and 185' arerotatably mounted on a shaft 190 at the other end of the apparatus 10.Each pair of sprockets is rotatably mounted at substantially the centerof curvature of the corresponding run around section of the apparatus10. One pair of sprockets, as an example, the idler sprocket 183 and 183may be mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to the frame 12 bya takeup device, not shown, which provides adjustment of the tension ofthe drive chains or conveyors 184 and 186.

The movable carriage or bracket 138 for each lift arm and barrelassembly 44 is connected to the upper and lower drive conveyor or chains184 and 186 for movement thereby by means of a pair of upper and lowerelongated angle-shaped mounting lugs 192. The mounting lugs 190 havetheir vertical legs secured to the bracket or carriage 138 and theirhorizontal legs interposed and secured to a pair of adjacent links ofthe corresponding conveyor chain 184 or 186 as best illustrated in FIG.5. An elongated U-shaped track 194 extends the entire length of each ofthe channel-shaped members 172. The track 194 is located at the centerof the member 172 adjacent the backwall 174 thereof. The back side ofeach bracket 138 is provided with a pair of rollers 196 mounted onshafts 198 carried by the bracket 138. As each carriage 138 and thesupported lift arm and barrel assembly 44 moves about the periphery ofthe frame 12, the guide rollers 196 provide for and maintain verticalalignment as will appear by referring to FIG. 5. It should be understoodthat the U-shaped track 194 may be made in several pieces or elements asis well known to a person skilled in the art.

The drive shaft 190 for the upper and lower drive sprockets 185 and 185'respectively is rotatably coupled to a vertical shaft, not shown, on thespeed reducer 200. The reducer 200 is in turn drivingly coupled by aflexible coupling 202 to an electric drive motor 204. By thisarrangement the lift am and barrel assemblies 44 are simultaneously andintermittently advanced along the supporting rail 38 of the endlessframe 12 in increments corresponding to the distance between adjacenttreating stations.

The near side of the apparatus 10 is provided with a first rotatablebarrel chain drive 206 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The far side of theapparatus 10 as illustrated in FIG. 3 is provided with a second barrelchain drive 208 and a third rotatable barrel chain drive 210. Theaforementioned barrel chain drives are for the purpose of rotating thebarrels 42 at preselected work stations at predetermined speeds.

The first barrel chain drive 206 comprises a drive sprocket 212 mountedon the near end of the shaft 214. The shaft 214 extends laterally acrossthe frame 12 to the far side where the far end thereof is provided witha sprocket 216 which is connected by a chain 218 to a sprocket 220provided on a speed reducer 222. The speed reducer 222 is connected bymeans of a flexible coupling, not illustrated, to the electric drivemotor 224.

The first barrel chain drive 206 further includes an idler sprocket 226at the end of the frame 12, an upper idler sprocket 228 mounted on atransversely extending counter shaft 230 and a pair of lower idlersprockets 232 and 234 as best illustrated in FIG. 2. An endless linkdrive chain 236 extends around the drive sprocket 212, upper idlersprocket 230, idler sprocket 228 and the lower idler sprockets 232 and234 and is effective when energized or driven to rotatably drive thebarrels 42 when at certain of the work treating stations as willsubsequently appear.

The counter shaft 230 extends across the frame 12 to the far sidethereof as illustrated in FIG. 3 and is provided with a drive sprocket238 which forms the drive member for the second barrel chain drive 208.The second barrel chain drive 208 further includes an idler sprocket 240at one end thereof, an upper idler sprocket 242 and a lower idlersprocket 244. An endless drive chain such as a link chain 246 extendsaround the sprockets 238, 240, 242 and 244. Rotation of the drivesprocket 238 by the first barrel drive 206 is effective to rotate anddrive the chain 246 and thereby rotatably drive the correspondingbarrels 42 at certain of the work treating stations.

The third barrel chain drive 210 is independent of barrel chain drives206 and 208 and includes a speed reducer 250 having a drive sprocket 252thereon. The speed reducer 250 is connected to a drive motor 254 bymeans of a drive chain 256 or by other suitable means well known in theart. The drive sprocket 252 is in turn connected by a chain drive 258 toa sprocket 260. Located at an end of the frame 12 is in idler sprocket262 and interposed between the sprockets 260 and 262 is a lower sprocket264. An endless drive chain 266 extends around the sprockets 260, 262and 264. The chain 266 when energized or driven is effective to rotatethe corresponding barrels 42 at the corresponding stations.

Mounted at the near and far sides of the frame 12 on the rail 38 are camtracks 270 which extend substantially the entire length of the frame 12.Each cam track 270 includes a horizontal portion 272 provided with aseries of downwardly inclined transfer cam surfaces 274 and 276 at themajority of the work stations. The V-shaped area between a pair of camsurfaces 274 and 276 is located generally centrally of the correspondingtreating station. The cam track 270 is made in sections and secured torail 38 by welding or by other fastening means such as bolts. Theconveyor drive chains 184 and 186 described previously are effective tomove the lift arm and barrel assemblies 44 around the periphery of theframe 12 and to transfer such assemblies 44 from station to station. Thefirst, second and third barrel chain drives 206, 208 and 210 areeffective to rotate the sprockets 73 provided on the lift arm assemblies44 and in turn to rotate the corresponding barrels 150 when the armassemblies 44 are at the bottom of the V-shaped areas between thesloping cam surfaces 274 and 276.

FIG. 1 illustrates a general layout of the processing apparatus l andspecifically of an automatic barrel machine. The apparatus is providedwith twelve work stations including the loading station 20, unloadingstation 24 and a series of treating stations, each treating stationhaving a treating tank (containing a treating solution) designed by theletters A-I inclusive. Located adjacent to the treating tank I isstation J which is hereinafter referred to as the drying station J wherethe parts in a barrel 150 are dried as best illustrated in FIG. 9. Theapparatus 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1 is provided with fifteen lift armand barrel assembles 42, one assembly at each of the stations other thanstation 6 (treating tank E at any one time. Station 6 is provided withfour lift arm and barrel assemblies 42 at any time period.

The following flow and time diagram illustrates the specific function ofeach of the twelve work stations and also the time required to process aloaded barrel at such stations:

FUNCTION & TIME DIAGRAM Work Designation Stations of Station FunctionsTime 1 Loading Station 20 To Load Barrels Variable (Automatic) 2 Tank ASoak 8r Clean 330 seconds 3 Tank B Cold Water Rinse 330 seconds 4 Tank CAcid Bath 330 seconds 5 Tank D Cold Water Rinse 330 seconds 6 Tank EZinc Plate Bath 23 Min-30 Sec.

7 Tank F Cold Water Rinse 330 Seconds 8 Tank G Chromate Bath Variable 9Tank H Cold Water Rinse 330 seconds 10 Tank Hot Water Rinse 330 seconds11 Tank Drying 330 seconds Unloading Station 24 To Unload TreatedVariable (Automatic) Parts From Barrels The function and time diagramillustrated above is typical of one machine incorporating features ofthe present invention. It should be appreciated that the functions andtime cycles may vary from one machine to another.

The apparatus 10 illustrated in the drawings produces 10 barrels of workper hour and has a dwell time of 5 minutes and 30 seconds and a transfertime of 30 seconds as will be understood by a person skilled in the art.

Each lift arm and barrel assembly 44 has three positions including: (a)a loading position and a plating position where the longitudinal axis ofthe lift arm and barrel assembly 44 is generally horizontal, with theentrance opening 160 of the barrel facing outwardly away from the frame12, with the loading position illustrated in FIG. 4 and the platingposition or operative position illustrated in FIG. 5; (b) a transferposition where the longitudinal axis of the lift arm and barrel assembly44 is inclined upwardly as illustrated in FIG. 7, with the opening ofthe barrel 42 facing upwardly and outwardly; and (c) an unloadingposition as illustrated in FIG 10, with the longitudinal axis of thelift arm and barrel assembly 44 being inclined downwardly and with theopening 160 of the barrel 42 facing downwardly and outwardly.

The arrangement of the barrels 150 and the corresponding lift armassemblies on the frame 12 as described heretofore has an importantadvantage not heretofore utilized in prior art machines in that theentrance openings 160 of the barrels 42 are located on the outerperiphery of the apparatus 10 rather than on the inner periphery of theapparatus as illustrated in the aforementioned Barton and Hannonpatents. Stated in another way, the entrance openings 160 in barrels 42face outwardly or in a direction away from the frame 12 to permit moreefiicient loading, treating and unloading of the parts or pieces in thebarrels 150.

The loading station 20 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a conveyorapparatus 270 which is effective to move relatively small parts orworkpieces to be treated from a discharge hopper, not shown, into thebarrel or receptacle 150 through the entrance opening 160 providedtherein.

A generally U-shaped tank E is provided at the sixth work station whichextends around one end of the frame 12 as best illustrated in FIG. 1.Tank E contains, as an example, a zinc plating bath in which fourbarrels 150 are located at any given time as mentioned previously. Theupper periphery of the tank E is provided with an overflow trough 273.The trough 273, starting at the center thereof at the place designatedby the numeral 274, slopes downwardly in opposite directions indicatedby arrows D and D in FIG. 1 to the low points on the upper periphery ofthe tank E designated by the numerals 275 and 276. The overflow trough273, as an example, is 2 inches deep at point 274 and approximately 6and 7 inches deep at points 275 and 276 in order to collect and directtreating solutions overflowing from tank E into opposite ends of anoverflow tank 280. The trough has a width of approximately 8 inches.Tank 280 is located at the back of the rear wall 281 of tank E.

The overflow tank 280 is provided with a centrally located sump 282having a height equal to the height of the overflow tank 280. The sump282 extends laterally across the tank 280 and is provided on oppositesides thereof with filter units 284 which filter the treating or platingsolution from the tank 280 prior to the solution entering the sump 282where additional zinc is added to the solution. In order to regulate orcontrol the temperature of the solution in the overflow tank 280, aheating coil or, in other cases, a cooling coil 286 is provided as anoptional feature. A centrally located vertically arranged conduit 288extends upwardly from the overflow sump 282 and is connected on theupper end thereof to a pump 290. The pump 290 is connected to a conduitdistribution system 292 which is arranged in the form of a U as bestillustrated in FIG. 1 and is mounted on the apparatus spaced above thetop of the tank E. The conduit system 292 is provided with fourdischarge spouts 294, one spout 294 for each of the barrels 150 in thetreating tank E. The purpose of the overflow tank 280, sump 282 and theconduit distribution system 292 is to provide a continuous supply offiltered treating solution for the barrels 150, such solution havingadditional zinc added thereto in the sump 282.

Treating tank F is provided with a delayed set down or quick positiondevice 300 which maintains the barrel 150 in a transfer or raisedposition for a predetermined period of time when the other barrels 150on the apparatus are in plating or treating positions. After apredetermined amount of time has elapsed the delayed setdown device 300lowers the barrel into the treating solution in tank F as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 8.

The delayed setdown device 300 includes a housing 302 carried by theframe 12. A vertically movable platform 304 is located in the spacegenerally occupied by the cam area defined by surfaces 274 and 276. Theplatform 304 is connected to a screwjack 306 having a nut 308 thereonmounted for rotation only. The nut 308 is power driven in rotation, asan example, by a motor, not shown, which is effective to raise or lowerthe platform 304, and in turn the lift arm and barrel assembly 44thereon. The delayed setdown device 300 is energized automaticallyaccording to a predetermined time pattern to transfer the barrel 150from a raised or transfer position to a treating position and thereafterto the transfer position for movement to the next station.

The drying station J illustrated in FIG. 9 is provided with a drierassembly 310 comprising a body 312 provided with a steam core or cores314 or other suitable heating means or devices. The front side of thebody 312 is provided with a funnel-shaped duct 316 which is connected toa fan and blower assembly 318. The assembly 318 is drivenly connected toa motor 321 which is adapted to drive the fan and thereby deliver, as anexample, 1,300 c.f.m. of heated air. The outlet of the blower assembly318 is provided with an outlet duct 320. The return side of the body 312is provided with a return duct 322 having adjacent the entrance opening324 thereof a pair of roll vanes 326. Duct 322 also includes a pair ofroll vanes 328 which are larger than the heretofore mentioned roll vanes326.

The upper end 330 of the inlet duct 320 is provided with a generallycylindrical transversely extending opening 332. Located in the opening332 is a generally tubular and reciprocable snorkel or conduit 334. Thesnorkel 334 is provided on the inner end thereof with a series ofopenings 336 in the bottom portion thereof. The outer end of the snorkel334 is provided on the bottom outside surface thereof with a rack 338. Agear or pinion drive 340 is appropriately mounted and is adapted uponrotation thereof to move the snorkel 334 with respect to the barrel 150at the drying station J.

After a barrel 150 has been moved or indexed to the drying station J,the drier assembly 310 is automatically energized so as to move thesnorkel 334 into the opening 160 of the barrel 150. Thereafter the fanand blower assembly 318 pulls the air across the steam or heated coilsand directs the heated air into the snorkel 334 via the inlet duct 320.The snorkel 340 directs the heated air downwardly through the openings336 provided therein directly on and across the workpieces in barrel150. The fan 318 pulls or sucks the air from the barrel via the returnduct 322 as is well known in the art. After the predetermined timesequence has taken place the snorkel 334 is automatically retracted fromthe barrel 150 and moved to a rear position until the succeeding barrel150 is indexed to the drying station J.

FIGS. 2 and 10 illustrate the barrel 150 in the unload position atunloading station 24. A power operated lift device 350 is provided atthe unloading station 24 for lowering and raising the barrel withrespect to the rail 38.

The rail 38 is provided with a gap or opening, not illustrated. Thepower lift device 350 includes a housing 352 having a pair of guidechannels. A slide or platform 354 is located in the gap of the guiderail 38 for closing same and is connected by guide means, not shown, toa jack or threaded member 356. A nut 358 is mounted on the jack 356 forrotation only and is driven in rotation by an electric motor 360.Rotation of the motor 360 and the nut 358 is effective to raise or lowerthe jack and in turn the slide 354 depending on the direction ofrotation of the nut 358. The treated or plated parts in the barrel 150are discharged into a suitable carrier or tote box.

The operation of the apparatus 10 has been already indicated while thevarious parts were being described. The workpieces or parts are loadedinto the receptacle 150 from a conveyor 270 as illustrated in FIG. 4.The drive conveyors 184 and 186 thereafter raise the barrel 150 into atransfer or inclined position or attitude as illustrated, as an example,in FIG. 7 and move the barrel 150 to treating tank A where the barrel150 is lowered into a generally horizontal treating position or attitudeas illustrated in FIG. 5. Thereafter the barrel chain drive 206 engagesthe sprocket 73 provided on the barrel 150 in tank A and rotates same(and housing 52 of the lift arm assembly 44) in the solution in thetreating tank A where the parts are initially cleaned. Upon completionof the requisite time period in tank A, the conveyors 184 and 186sequentially and intermittently move the barrel 150 through tank B intotank C which is provided with an acid solution. The acid solutiondissolves any grease from the surfaces of the workpieces which areundergoing rotation at such station. Upon completion of the requisitetime period at tank C the barrel 150 is raised and transferred byconveyors 184 and 186 to tank D which is a cold water rinse station. Aspout 362 is located above the tank D and is connected to a supply ofcold water under pressure. The spout 362 is located adjacent theentrance opening to the barrel 150 and supplies cold water continuouslyto the rotating barrel 150 in tank D. Upon completion of the requisitetime period at tank D, the barrel 150 is advanced and transferred totank E where the workpieces in the rotatable barrels 150 are rotated, asan example, in a zinc bath for plating the workpieces. The barrel 150periodically is advanced along the curved turnaround portion of the rail38 adjacent the tank E while undergoing continued rotation. A fresh zincplating solution is continuously pumped into the barrels 150 in tank Eas explained previously to improve the plating efficiency. Theworkpieces in the barrels 150 in tank E are subjected to the action ofthe electroplating current and plating solution as they pass in thebarrels 150 in a generally U-shaped path around rail 38 while undergoingrotatron.

Upon completion of the requisite time period in tank E, which isapproximately 236: minutes, the barrel 150 is raised and transferred totank F which is a cold water rinse. A con tinuous supply of cold watermay be directed into the entrance opening of the barrel 150 via a spoutof the type described at tank D and designated by the numeral 362. Uponcompletion of the aforementioned cold water-rinsing cycle, the barrel150 is moved to tank G which is provided with the delayed action setdowndevice 300 described previously. Tank G contains a chromate bath and thetime period in which the workpieces in the rotating barrel 150 areimmersed is dependent upon different electroplating factors well knownin the art.

Upon completion of the requisite time period in tank G, the barrel 150is raised and transferred to a cold water rinse in tank H and thensequentially to a hot water rinse in tank I. A spout 364 is locatedabove tank 1 and is connected to a supply of hot water under pressurefor supplying hot water continuously to the rotating barrel 150. Uponcompletion of the requisite time period in tank I, the barrel is raisedand transferred to the drying station J in FIG. 9 where the snorkel 334is automatically injected into the mouth of the barrel 150 in order todirect hot air across the rotating workpieces as described previously.

Upon completion of the drying cycle, the barrel 150 is transferred tothe unloading station 24 where the power operated lift device 350 isoperated effective to lower the barrel 150 on platform 354 and dischargethe plated workpieces from barrel 150 into any suitable carrier such asa truck or tote box.

It should be appreciated that an electrical cathode rail or bus bar 370is provided along the straight length of each side of the frame 12 andis adapted to supply current to the electrical contact shoe 104 of eachlift arm assembly 44 or the rail 370 may be provided only opposite thoseplating and treating stations requiring electrification as is well knownin the art. The electrical system comprising the cathode track or rail370, the contact shoes 104 an the other electrical component parts ofthe lift arm assemblies 44 may be inspected and repaired in certaininstances without requiring the complete disassembly of the lift armassemblies 44 or their removal from the frame 12.

The apparatus or machine is fully automatic. The movements andoperations of the barrels 150 are under the control of a completelyautomatic electrical system, not illustrated. The various mechanical andelectrical elements and parts of the apparatus 10 cooperate in timerelationship so that such elements and parts operate at predeterminedtimes and produce the predetermined results of lifting the barrel orlift arm assemblies 44 at the proper point, transporting the raisedassemblies 44 horizontally a predetermined amount to the next treatingstations, lowering the lift arm assemblies 44 to a horizontal attitudeat the treating stations, rotating the barrels where required at suchtreating stations and repeating the aforementioned cycles of operationsuntil each barrel is processed. The electrical circuit may includesafety means which is inoperative as long as the various elements andparts of the machine 10 are maintained in properly timed relationship.ln that event that any circumstance arises which interferes with theproper timing of the apparatus or machine 10, a safety circuitimmediately becomes operative to stop the driving motors and preventdamage to the apparatus 10.

In summary, the present invention has many important and unique featuresincluding: (a) the provision of the sump 282, the recirculating pump 290and distribution piping 292 which pumps fresh solution into the rotatingbarrels 150 in tank E; (b) the addition of the electric motor powered,jack or device 350 which raises and lowers the barrel 150 at theunloading station 24; (c) the design and shape of the processing barrel150 and the continuous pumping of fresh solution or hot or cold rinsewaters into the work being processed in the barrel; (d) the design andfunction of the lift arm assembly 44 including the cathodic conductor 48extending through the assembly; (e) an automatic barrel plating and/orprocessing machine or apparatus 10 which includes barrel chain drives206, 208 and 210 in order to rotate the barrels 150 at the work stationsat various predetermined speeds; and (f) the provision of a lift orsetdown device 300 at a work station alongside one side of the apparatus10. The mounting of the barrel 150 as described herein has increased theplating efficiency, when compared to present barrel-plating machines, byat least 30 percent.

Additional metallic content of zinc is added to the solution in the sump282 whereby only fresh solution is pumped into the barrel for deposit onthe workpieces which is cathodic in nature. The gutter 273 slopes towardthe sump 282 and tank E overflows around the entire periphery thereof.

Tanks A, B, G, H are P.V.C. lined as is well known in the art. Inaddition a vent hood is provided around the acid tank C and on any othertanks where required to provide an exhaust exit for the fumes. Inaddition overflow troughs, not shown, are provided along certain of thetanks as is well known in the art. The solutions in the tanks generallyhave an upper level an inch or so below the top of the tank so that theworkpieces in the barrels 150 rotate in solutions.

It should be appreciated that the various drive and conveyor mechanismsincluding the motors, flexible couplings, link belts, chains, cables,and the like may take different forms or equivalents in order to obtainthe desired results.

In addition, the lift arm assemblies 44 are actually moved from ahorizontal attitude to a raised attitude by the conveyors 184 and 186which urges the cams 86 of the assemblies 44 against the cam surfaces274 and 276 as is obvious to a person skilled in the art.

The two rollers 196 provided on the back of each carriage or bracket 138tend to prevent twisting of the carriage 138 as it is moved around theendless path path by the conveyors 184 and 186.

Another important feature of the present invention is the use of thecountershaft drive 230 wherein one drive motor is effective to drive twoendless chain drives 206 and 208, one chain drive on each side of theframe 12 as described heretofore.

In certain cases the snorkel 334 will not be utilized. In such instancethe outlet duct 320 is provided with a curved end having an openingwhich faces the opening or mouth of the barrel 150 when in an operativeposition.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description ofthe improved barrel-type processing apparatus in such full, clear,concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art topractice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appendedclaims.

1. A lift arm assembly for a processing machine having a cam rail forlifting and lowering said assembly into and out of the treating solutionand an electrical cathode rail, said arm assembly comprising anelongated nonrotatable tubular sleeve, an elongated conductor shaftcoaxially mounted in said sleeve and separated from said sleeve byinsulating bushing means, a housing surrounding and spaced from one endportion of said sleeve, bearing means interposed in the space betweensaid sleeve and said housing and mounting said housing for rotation, anonrotatable housing fixedly mounted on the other end portion of saidsleeve, a supporting cam carried by said nonrotatable housing andadapted to engage the cam rail, and an electrical contact shoe carriedby said nonrotatable housing in electrical contact with said conductorshaft, said contact shoe being adapted to engage the cathode rail andbeing insulated from said nonrotatable housing.

2. The lift arm assembly defined in claim 1 wherein resilient means isprovided for urging said contact shoe into electrical contact with oneend of said conductor shaft.

3. The lift arm assembly defined in claim 1 wherein resilient means isinterposed between said contact shoe and said nonrotatable housing andadapted to urge said contact shoe into electrical contact with thecathode rail.

4. The lift arm assembly defined in claim 1 wherein a sprocket iscarried by said first-mentioned housing for rotating same.

5. The lift arm assembly defined in claim 1 wherein a barrel is securedto said first-mentioned housing for rotation therewith.

6. The lift arm assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said nonrotatablehousing is in the form of a generally U-shaped yoke having a pair ofmounting arms.

7. The lift arm assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said supporting camis in the form of a cam wheel.

2. The lift arm assembly defined in claim 1 wherein resilient means isprovided for urging said contact shoe into electrical contact with oneend of said conductor shaft.
 3. The lift arm assembly defined in claim 1wherein resilient means is interposed between said contact shoe and saidnonrotatable housing and adapted to urge said contact shoe intoelectrical Contact with the cathode rail.
 4. The lift arm assemblydefined in claim 1 wherein a sprocket is carried by said first-mentionedhousing for rotating same.
 5. The lift arm assembly defined in claim 1wherein a barrel is secured to said first-mentioned housing for rotationtherewith.
 6. The lift arm assembly defined in claim 1 wherein saidnonrotatable housing is in the form of a generally U-shaped yoke havinga pair of mounting arms.
 7. The lift arm assembly defined in claim 1wherein said supporting cam is in the form of a cam wheel.